Engine starting device



April 8, .1941.

B. GETZ ETAL I 2.2372816 ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1938 INVENTORS. ALEX JOHNSON 8' BY QBEN-JzMlg G ETZ.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 OFFICE ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Benjamin Gctz and Alex Johnson, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 25, 1938, Serial No. 221,147

8 Claims.

This invention relates to engine starting devices for. internal combustion engines and more particularly to improved engine starters, a1- though certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially an improved automatic engine starter that eliminates the use of mechanical springs and provides moredependable and effective cushioning action in the operationthereof.

In. engine starters of known construction, the cushioning springs and the starter shaft are subject. to severe strain, and as a result require replacement. at appreciable expense. This is especially true in the type of engine starters that employ mechanical springs rather than resilient cushioning expedients of, the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,070,277 constituting, an engine starter attachment. The present invention provides even an improved construction thereover and relates primarily to an engine starter rather than an attachment therefor to secure more effective cushioning action in a rotary as well as a longitudinal direction.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide an improved rotary and longitudinal cushioning action in engine starters.

Still another object is to provide a novel assembly of resilient cushioning members together with mechanical instrumentalities in a self-contained engine starter.

A further object. is to provide an engine starter of simple and improved construction that provides for rotary and longitudinal shock absorbing rubber cushioning expedients.

A still further object is to provide a novel assembly of instrumentalities embodying rotary and end thrust resilient cushions that are more effective and dependable in engine starter operations.

Still a further object is to provide an improved engine starter of more efficient and durable design givingrise to minimum or negligible wear on any elements thereof.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a novel construction, arrangement and assembly of parts comprising a self-contained engine starter.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing: 1

Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation of a device embodying features and teachings of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a disc constituting an element of the assembled, structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line III-IIIof Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IV-I V of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along line V--V of Figure 1.

,Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan View of adriven shaft including the pinion.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a coupling element that cooperates with the driven shaft shown in, Figure 7.

Figure 8 is aperspective view of a cushioning block retainer housing. t

Figure. 9 is a perspective view of a preformed rubber cushioning block constituting anelement of the assembled device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a longitudinally slitted collar or housing constituting apart of the assembled unit shown in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a preformed rubber end thrust absorbing member or disc constituting part of. the assembled unit shown in Figure 1.

The structureselected for illustration comprises a starter housing III. which has an end hub II merging with an enlarged peripheral shoulder i2 formed concentrically therewith to define peripheral end surfaces l3 and I4 The. shoulder I2. has a rib 15 extending longitudinally of a housing bore I6 provided through the hub H and its peripheral shoulder l2. As shown, the. rib I5 preferably though not essentially has inwardly converging surfaces IT and I8 interposed between arcuately convex and concave surfaces [9 and 20, respectively. The arcuately convex surface 19 merges with the peripheral surface of the shoulder l2 and the correspondingly concave arcuate surface 20 extends beyond the axial bore Hi to accommodate instrumentalities as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The rib I 5 merges with a circular end shoulder 2! preferably though not essentially of the same diameter as the shoulder 12, they being maintained in rigid spaced parallel relation by means of the rib l5. An axial bore 22 is provided in the end shoulder 21 for alignment with the comparatively smaller bore l6 concentrically disposed in the hub II and shoulder I2. A keyway 23 is broached or otherwise provided in the bore IB and such serves to effectively receive a starting driving shaft 24 therethrough for rotation therewith through the medium of an interconnecting key 25. The starter driving shaft 24 extends through the spaced Shoulders l2 and 2| having the bores l6 and 22 provided axially therethrough, and such preferably though not essentially extends to the end surface l3 for contact with an armature shaft 26 constituting a part of the starter motor (not shown).

In order to engage the hub H with the armature shaft 26 for rotation therewith, a threaded stud screw 21 extends radially through the wall of the hub H so that its pointed set screw extremity 28 will engage a correspondingly shaped recess provided in the armature shaft 26, thereby establishing a fixed connection therebetween for rotation of the starter housing Ill responsive to the energization of the starting motor that serves to rotate the starting driving shaft 24. As shown, the starter driving shaft 24 extends beyond the end shoulder 2| of the retainer housing l and terminates in a reduced extremity 29 which is journalled in a bearing to support the driving shaft 24 in axial alignment with the armature shaft 26 of the starter motor (not shown).

A driven shaft :30 of tubular construction has an axial bore 3| extending therethrough for journalled rotation on the driving shaft 24. The external diameter of the tubular driven shaft .30 conforms to the diameter of the bore 22 in the end shoulder 2| of the housing It], while the inner bore 31 conforms with the external diameter of 33 extends. radially from the inner end 34 of the driven shaft 30, it being preferably though not essentially formed integral therewith to mesh with a convolute groove 35 formed in a sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 has its internal contour [31 con forming substantially in size with the external a diameter of the driven shaft 3|] for relative rotation therebetween responsive to the rotation of the driven shaft 130 to simultaneously effect its longitudinal displacement to cause the pinion 32 to engage and disengage its. complemental engine gear (not shown) depending upon the comingly arcuate metallic sleeve 49 that is longitudinally slitted along the length thereof as at 50 to receive the radial lug 43 of the inner sleeve 35 whose external diameter conforms with the internal diameter of the outer sleeve 49. Consequently, the inner sleeve 35 and outer sleeve 49 are maintained in assembled association against relative rotation and the arcuately preformed resilient rubber blocks 4l48 are disposed thereon between the key rib l and sleeve lug 43, the arcuate extent of the preformed resilient cushioning blocks 41-4-8 being somewhat less than the circumferential distance between the oppositely disposed key rib 1 5 and inner sleeve lug 43 to permit relative movement between the driving shaft .24 and the driven shaft to permit the longitudinal displacement of the pinion 32 for engagement and disengagement with the engine gear (not shown).

The longitudinal displacement of the starting pinion 32 is effected by virtue of the rotation of the driving shaft 24 with the retainer housing Ill and convolutely grooved sleeve relative to the shaft 30 with its lug 33 riding in the convolute groove 35. It will be apparent, therefore, that one of the arcuately preformed resilient rubber blocks 41-48 will sustain the torque load and absorb or cushion the circumferential shock when the pinion 32 engages the engine gear with which it meshes while the other cushioning block will serve to sustain the load and absorb or cushion the shock during their disengagement after the engine gear commences to rotate at a greater speed than the pinion 32. So that the end lug disc 42 will not rotate relative to the housing II), it is provided with a notch 5| that corresponds in shape with and serves as a comparative speed of rotation therebetween. It is to be noted that one extremity :38 of the sleeve 36 is disposed in an annular recess 39 provided in the inside surface of the end shoulder 2| for communication with the end bore 22 therein, while the other extremity 40 of the sleeve 36 is journalled on a hub 4| comprising part of a circular disk 42.

To maintain these parts in predetermined assembled relation against relative rotation therebetween, the sleeve 36 has a radially extending lug 43 formed thereon, it having an arcuate end surface 44 and radially converging side surfaces 45 and 45 to cooperate with the oppositely disposed housing key rib I 5 to define circumferential spaces for a pair of arcuately preformed resilient rubber blocks 41 and 48 (Figure 5). As shown, the resilient and arcuately preformed resilient blocks 41 and 48 contact a correspondplement of the key rib l 5 to maintain the parts in their assembled relation.

In order to absorb the end thrust that is 0ccasioned when the starting disc 32 becomes disengaged after the engine gear has started to rotate at a greater speed than the disc 132, a preformed resilient rubber disc 52 is interposed, between the end surface [4 of the housing shoulder 12 and the metallic disc 42. The preformed resilient disc 52 has an axial bore 53 corresponding in size with the diameter of the driving shaft 24 and a notch 54 is provided in the circumferential edge thereof to correspond with the notch 5| in the adjacent metallic disc 42 for alignment and registry therewith to engage the key rib i5 and.

preclude relative rotation with the housing .I 0. A

notch 54 is provided in the bore 22 of the end shoulder 2| to enable the insertion of the driven shaft 30 with its lug 33 therethrough.

'It will be noted that the metallic disk 42 and the circularly preformed resilient rubber disk 52 are of corresponding diameter and extend to the external arcuate surface i=9 of the key rib .15 constituting an integral part of the starter housing it]. A cylindrical protective casing or sleeve 55 has its internal diameter corresponding with the external diameters of the peripheral shoulders 12 and 2| of the housing l0 so as to contact therewith and enclose the housing [0 together with the parts assembled therewith. To this end, a threaded stud 55 projects through one edge of the protective casing sleeve v55 to engage a correspondingly threaded aperture 51 in the shoulder 2 to maintain the parts in assembled relation and preclude the entry of foreign substances that would have a deteriorating eifect upon the resilient rubber cushioning members 41, 48, and 52.

With the arrangement of parts above described,

it will be apparent that when the starting motor (not shown) rotates its armature shaft 26, corresponding rotation will be imparted to the housing It and the driving shaft 24 which will momentarily cause the driven shaft to be displaced outwardly to effect meshing engagement of the pinion 32 with the engine starting gear (not shown). Thereupon, the lug 33 on the driven shaft 30 will reach the limit of movement in the convolute groove 35 to effect rotation of the pinion 32 while in meshing engagement with the engine gear, thereby starting the engine to which it is attached. In consequence thereof, the starter engine will commence to rotate at a higher speed than the normal rate of rotation of the driving shaft 24 to the end that, the driven shaft 30 will recede inwardly along the convolute' groove 35 and effect dis-engagement of the starting pinion 32 that momentarily was in meshing engagement with the engine gear. The starting motor is then ale-energized by the driver when the engine has started its operation so as to place the component elements in their initial position for another starting operation responsive to energizing the starter motor (not shown).

A very simple, dependable and effective engine starter has been provided that is comparatively inexpensive in construction and provides a far more effective cushioning in both a circumferential and axial direction than heretofore obtainable with similar starting devices. Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advan tages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as definedin the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion fixedly mounted for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft to circumferentially confront said sleeve eccentric, a pair of arcuately preformed resilient rubber means interposed between said last named member and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection, and an axially disposed preformed rubber member operatively interposed between said driver and driven shafts to sustain end thrusts therebetween. i

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion fixedly mounted for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft to circumferentially confront said sleeve eccentric, a pair of arcuately preformed resilient rubber means interposed between said last named member and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection, an end disc fitted to said driver shaft to concentrically space said sleeve relative to said driven shaft, and an axially disposed preformed rubber member disposed adjacent said end disc and operatively interposed between said driver and driven. shafts to sustain end thrusts therebetween.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion fixedly mounted for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between I said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft to circumferentially confront said sleeve eccentric, a pair of arcuately pre formed resilient, means interposed between said last named member and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection, an end disc fitted to said driver shaft to concentrically space said sleeve relative to said driven shaft, and an axially disposed preformed rubber member disposed adjacent said end disc and operatively interposed between said driver and driven shafts to sustain end thrusts therebetween, said last named rubber member and end disc having corresponding notches complemental to said retainer member for aligned registry therewith.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion fixedly mounted for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft to circumferentially confront said sleeve eccentric, another sleeve having a longitudinal slit therein to receive said eccentric therethrough to embrace said first named sleeve, and a pair of arcuately preformed resilient rubber means interposed between said last named member and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a tubular driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion fixedly mounted for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft for rotation therewith, said retainer having a longitudinal rib disposed in the circumferential path of said sleeve eccentric, another sleeve having a longitudinal slit therein to receive said eccentric therethrough to embrace said first named sleeve, and a pair of arcuately. preformed resilient rubber means disposed over said last named sleeve and interposed between said retainer rib and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a tubular driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion formed integral for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft for rotation therewith, said retainer having a longitudinal rib disposed in the circumferential path of said sleeve eccentric, another sleeve having a longitudinal slit therein to receive said eccentric therethrough to embrace said first named sleeve, a pair of arcuately preformed resilient rubber means disposed over said last named sleeve and interposed between said retainer rib and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection, and a cylindrical housing surrounding said driving and driven shafts to totally enclose said resilient rubber means.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a starting driver shaft, a tubular driven shaft telescopically mounted relative to said driver shaft, a pinion formed integral for rotation with said driven shaft to engage and disengage an engine gear for starting purposes, a sleeve telescopically associated with said driven shaft, there being a screw connection between said sleeve and driven shaft, an eccentric formed on said sleeve, a retainer member associated with said driver shaft for rotation therewith, said retainer having a longitudinal rib disposed in the circumferential path of said sleeve eccentric, another sleeve having a longitudinal slit therein to receive said eccentric therethrough to embrace said first named sleeve, a pair of arcuately preformed resilient rubber means disposed over said last named sleeve and interposed between said retainer rib and said eccentric on said sleeve to operatively effect their connection, and a cylindrical housing surrounding said shaft and first named sleeve to totally enclose said resilient rubber means.

8. In an engine starting device, a starting shaft, a tubular driven shaft surrounding said starting shaft, a radial lug on said driven shaft, a tubular sleeve having a helicular groove formed therein for telescopic association with said driven shaft, said helicular groove being in registry with said driven shaft lug to effect axial relative displacement responsive to relative rotation therebetween, said tubular sleeve having an eccentric portion thereon, a retainer member on said starting shaft for rotation therewith, said retainer having a longitudinal rib disposed in the circumferential path of said sleeve eccentric, a pair of arcuate resilient rubber blocks disposed between said eccentric and said retainer rib on opposite sides thereto to render said driven shaft responsive to said starting shaft, and another resilient rubber member axially interposed between said driver and driven shafts to sustain axial end thrusts therebetween.

BENJAMIN GETZ. ALEX JOHNSON. 

